ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday condemned the killing innocent civilians in Pulwama area of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and called for India to allow Kashmiris to decide their future.

In a message on Twitter, Imran Khan said that only dialogue, not violence and killing, would resolve this conflict.

“We will raise the issue of India’s human rights violations in IOK and demand UNSC fulfil its Kashmir plebiscite commitment,” he demanded.

In a second Tweet, the prime minister said that Kashmiris must be allowed to decide their future.

His statement came a day after 14 Kashmiris were killed when Indian forces opened fire on them during a protest demonstration.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also called upon the international community and global human rights organisations to immediately intervene and protect the innocent Kashmiris from the ongoing “killing spree” by the occupation forces in the held valley.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the foreign minister said that the surge in oppressive tactics by the occupation forces in IOK clearly manifested ‘a state-sponsored terrorism’ unleashed against the Kashmiris.

FM Qureshi expressed his optimism that the world was not so oblivious and senseless to such callous treatment of the Kashmiris and urged upon the human rights watchdogs to ”at least distinguish between an issue and the ruthless killing spree”.

The foreign minister also urged the international community to take notice of the continued unprecedented events of barbarism and inhuman oppression against the innocent Kashmiris.

He said that on Saturday some 14 Kashmiris were killed and 300 others were reportedly injured, many among them sustained critical injuries.

“It appears now the Indian forces are on the killing spree,” he said, adding they were not out to quell protestors and crowds by resorting to aerial firing but Saturday’s events showed their ‘aim to kill’.

“I hope the world will raise its voice over the Indian state terrorism in IOK,” he added.

The foreign minister said that he had also written letters to the secretary generals of United Nations (UN) and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), besides addressing the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) for bringing their attention to such grave human rights violations in IOK.

FM Qureshi said that he had also a telephonic conversation with the OIC secretary general and urged him to summon a ministerial-level meeting of the member states in Pakistan.

The OIC secretary-general responded in positive and asked him to submit a formal request in that regard, he said, adding he told the secretary-general that Pakistan was ready to host the proposed meeting and was even ready for the meeting in Doha.

The Foreign Office (FO) also condemned the horrific bloodbath in the occupied valley.

In a statement issued on Sunday, FO said, “Pakistan strongly condemns the horrific bloodbath in IOK by the Indian occupation force that has resulted in the martyrdom of 14 innocent Kashmiris and injuries to more than 200 protesters.”
“The mindless killing spree carried out by the Indian occupation forces on Saturday is yet another example of the Indian atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris. India continues to kill and maim, under the garb of ‘combating terror’. In IOK, every man, woman or a child who protests against India’s illegal occupation and brutalities against innocent and hapless Kashmiris, is a ‘terrorist’,” the statement added.

MASOOD DENOUNCES MASSACRE OF KASHMIRI YOUTH

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan on Sunday strongly denounced the abhorrent and ruthless killing of innocent people by Indian forces in IOK.

“India wants to frighten people of IOK and weaken their freedom sentiments but it will never succeed in its evil designs. The latest wave of brutalities against the innocent people is nothing but a state-sponsored terrorism,” he said.

Terming the Pulwama massacre by Indian occupation forces as a grave violation of the human rights, he said that this gruesome act of terror has unveiled the brutal face of India.

It is high time that the UN intervene and establish a commission of inquiry in the light of the recommendation by Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to halt Indian state-sponsored terrorism, he demanded.

“If the international community fails to act swiftly, the concept of human rights, respect for humanity and human dignity will be left irrelevant. The UN is duty bound to protect the human rights of the people all over the world and Kashmir is no exception,” he emphasised.